External Technical Reviews in the Environmental Management Program

Conference · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2008

OSTI ID:21319772

Schneider, St P; Gerdes, K; Johnson, H; Machara, N; Moore, B ^[1]

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1. Office of Engineering and Technology, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy (United States)

The Environmental Management (EM) program believes strongly in reducing the technical risk of its projects and has initiated External Technical Reviews (ETR) as one of several steps to ensure the timely resolution of engineering and technology issues. EM's Office of Engineering and Technology is leading the ETR process and is working closely with Federal Project Directors to review such issues as technology development, systems integration, design, operations, maintenance, and nuclear safety. EM has completed several successful reviews using expert engineers and scientists from private industry and academia over the last two years. Additional external technical reviews will be conducted to support key project decisions and will be a mainstay of the EM program. The purpose of an ETR is to reduce technical risk and uncertainty. These independent reviews provide pertinent information for EM to assess technical risk associated with projects and develop strategies for reducing the technical risk, and provide technical information needed to support critical project decisions. Technical risk reduction increases the probability of successful implementation of technical scope. In general, an ETR assesses technical bases, technology development, and technical risk identification and handling strategies. The three key objectives of every ETR are: - To determine if the technology, process, system, or design under review will meet project objectives and requirements, - To identify any issues (show-stoppers) preventing successful implementation of the technology, process, system, or design under review, and - To identify issues or data needed to support critical or other project or program decisions. The specific objectives of ETRs may vary, but generally include: - Determining if technical objectives are well known and defined; - Determining if alternatives have been identified and effectively evaluated; - Determining if technology development is well planned and executed; - Determining the adequacy of quality assurance and scientific investigation; - Determining if technical bases are substantial and adequately documented; - Validating the technical basis and appropriateness of the technology, process, system, or design to technical risk reduction; - Determining if the technology can be deployed and implemented. In conclusion, ETRs have proven to be a valuable tool for reducing technical risk and uncertainty in EM projects. An ETR Process Guide is currently being developed that will provide a standard review and reporting process for all EM ETRs. EM plans to conduct ETRs in the future to support key project decisions. (authors)

• Research Organization: WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 21319772
• Report Number(s): INIS-US--10-WM-08248
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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